"I made a mistake,'' Gary Joiner said. "Obviously, I paid a price for it. I apologized for it to everybody and moved on. We've moved on. My wife and I have tried to move on and we have.'' [Times files]

Pasco County property appraiser candidate Gary Joiner is trying to mitigate the political damage sustained after attempting to rekindle an extramarital affair with a subordinate at the Tax Collector's Office and lying about it to his supervisor. The campaign is sending a letter signed by Joiner's wife to female voters, urging them to ignore the negative publicity.

BUCKHORN: TAMPA IS 'FISCALLY SOUND'

After a fourth straight year of rising property values, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn today proposed a $905.9 million city budget for 2017 that does not dip into city reserves. The City Council will hold two public hearings on the budget in coming months.

FENNELLY: ACADEMIC SCANDAL HITS USF AT WORST POSSIBLE TIME

As if going 7-24 last season wasn't enough, writes columnist Martin Fennelly. The USF men's basketball program, already the worst show on campus, is now under NCAA investigation for possible academic fraud. Assistant coach Oliver Antigua has already resigned. Can his older brother, head coach Orlando Antigua, be far behind?

HOME PRICES CONTINUE TO SKYROCKET THIS SUMMER

Tampa Bay home prices soared nearly 17 percent in June, the biggest year-over-year jump in a year. At the same time, the number of sales in June showed zero change from a year ago — another sign that prices are being driven up by the extremely tight supply of available homes.

[Associated Press]

Defenders say Trump only wants better deals and that the position is among the ways he is broadening the party's appeal.

TRUMP AND THE GOP SHIFT, FOR BETTER OR WORSE

Donald Trump's legacy with the Republican Party will be one of transformation. But as he accepts the presidential nomination tonight, a fierce debate is being waged over whether his role is positive or a crushing setback that would take time to reverse even if he loses in November.

MIDTOWN WANTS SAY IN WHAT COME NEXT FOR TROP SITE

The city of St. Petersburg kicked off public discussion this week on how to reimagine the 85 acres around Tropicana Field as planners and city officials promised a dense, walkable destination that, for now, includes a baseball stadium. That message met two very different receptions from citizens at two venues.

DAVE & BUSTER'S EYES LAND NEXT TO BASS PRO SHOPS

National arcade restaurant Dave & Buster's this week filed a construction plan with Hillsborough County to build a venue adjacent to Bass Pro Shops and near the TopGolf facility in Brandon. It's another piece in the 150-acre Estuary project that's turning in a regional entertainment destination. Also, Carvana, a company that operates as an online used car dealership, will be building within the development.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded to a mobile home fire just after 11 p.m. on July 20, 2016, that claimed the lives of two people inside. A child and adult were found deceased inside the mobile home. A Hillsborough deputy who attempted to rescue the victims was transported to the hospital after receiving smoke inhalation and burns to his hands. He was treated and released.

WOMAN, CHILD DIE IN MOBILE HOME FIRE

A 58-year-old woman and 2-year-old child died in an east Tampa mobile home fire late Wednesday, and a Hillsborough County deputy was injured during an explosion as he attempted to rescue the woman, officials said.

A QUEST FOR GULFPORT STREET ART

Twice in recent months, Rosalie "Roz" Barbieri, a longtime resident of Gulfport and arts advocate, has appealed to the City Council for help in touching up the city's look. She wonders: Why doesn't Gulfport have large, colorful murals adorning the walls of buildings, as St. Petersburg does?

METROCON COMING TO TAMPA

If you start seeing a large number of people in downtown Tampa sporting pink, blue or purple pigtails, here's the reason: Metrocon returns to the Tampa Convention Center today and runs through the weekend. The focus of Metrocon is anime, the style of flashy Japanese animation and artwork familiar to anyone who has seen Speed Racer or Sailor Moon. Now Florida's largest anime convention, Metrocon has grow into a four-day extravaganza where more than 10,000 attendees are expected to dress in costume and do some serious shopping. Tickets are only available at the door now: $10-$40 for children 12 and younger, $30-$70 for single and multi-day tickets.

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